Sam Brittain Hitchhiker Interview

Rock n roll cowboy Sam Brittain has shared his sweeping new single Hitchhiker, inspired by a real encounter with a hitchhiker on the train across the Nullarbor Plain, out now. The hooky new track is accompanied by a clip that acts as a fun and loving ode to Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, created in collaboration with Mickey Manson (Maya Cumming, Hachiku). Sam Brittain is thrilled to be back with Hitchhiker, and will celebrate the release with a show at Jive in Adelaide on June 12.

Hitchhiker is evocative of songwriting and rock n roll greats Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, while still maintaining a truly unique, modern sensibility and classic Australian flair. This is an artist who understands how to tell a story, who understands how the peak and fall of a melody can inform how the audience interprets the narrative – and it's so satisfying to get lost in this piece of music. Speaking on the inspiration behind the track, Brittain says, "A few years ago I was travelling east across Australia by train when we screeched to a halt in the middle of nowhere, a few hours out of Perth. The reason for our stoppage was that a passing train had spotted a stowaway on the motorail car. We pulled into Kalgoorlie station and the man was arrested by police. Apparently he simply pleaded not to be sent back to Perth. The man's actions seemed extreme – it made me wonder what drove him to such desperate measures? What was he running from? The song was born from exploring that feeling of desperation, the fear, and inescapable self loathing."

The video for Hitchhiker is a 70s, saturated, vibrant dream; it pays playful homage to Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas as Brittain is chased across the desert by an ominous recurring character. Reflecting on the making of the clip, Brittain explains, "I wanted to create the same feeling of being chased across the desert by your own demons that I imagine the man who got arrested on that train must have felt. But instead of Johnny Depp and Beneci Del Toro's characters seeing hallucinations of bats in the sky, we are seeing visions of our hitchhiker - played wonderfully by our drummer Matt Birkin – as many different characters throughout the video's storyline – from wanderer to gas station attendant, to traffic cop to prisoner to himself."

Pumped about the new release, Sam Brittain is set to wow audiences at Adelaide's Jive on June 12, celebrating all things Hitchhiker. It's been a long time coming, as Brittain reflects, "After a failed attempt at recording the new album, and throwing the whole project in the bin, it feels incredible to finally be able to release new music that has not only achieved the vision I had from the beginning, but surpassed my expectations, and I most certainly believe that's entirely due to starting over with my best friends in town. The quality of this release is all due to the people in the room, and their love and investment in the project."

Interview with Sam Brittain

Question: How would you describe your music?

Sam Brittain: Sad stories disguised by loud guitars and drums


Question: What inspired your new song Hitchhiker?

Sam Brittain: A few years ago I was travelling east across Australia by train when we screeched to a halt in the middle of nowhere, a few hours out of Perth. The reason for our stoppage was that a passing train had spotted a stowaway on the motorail car. We pulled into Kalgoorlie station and the man was arrested by police. Apparently he simply pleaded not to be sent back to Perth. The man's actions seemed extreme to say the least – it made me wonder what drove him to such desperate measures? What was he running from? The song was born from exploring that feeling of desperation, the fear, and inescapable self-loathing.


Question: Can you tell us about the music video?

Sam Brittain: The video is a homage to one of my all-time favorite books and movies. Hunter S Thompson's Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas. With the idea of a hitchhiker in mind we thought it was a great chance to have some fun and do our best to embrace that opening scene of Johnny Depp, Benecio Del Toro and Toby McGuire barrelling across the desert seeing bats in the sky. However it's not bats we are seeing everywhere in our version...It's our drummer (Matt Birkin)

Question: Is there a particular message you hope listeners take from your music?

Sam Brittain: It changes from song to song, although I would be intrigued to hear some of the messages people draw from the album as a whole once it's released. I always like hearing the different interpretations of the lyrics. They can be interesting insights into the minds of those who conjured up the imagery or that version of the story;, or an insight into my own subconscious that I had overlooked.


Question: Do you prefer performing live or recording?

Sam Brittain: Recording!


Question: What should we expect from your upcoming show?

Sam Brittain: A lot of fun with some of my best friends and some great music.


Question: What motivates you most when writing music?

Sam Brittain: Generally real life events, stories and encounters from the folks I meet somewhere along the way.


Question: Which music/artists are you currently listening to?
Sam Brittain: Phoebe Bridgers, Amos Lee and ABC classic radio so the new pooch sleeps!


Question: Did you always want to pursue a career in the music industry?

Sam Brittain: No when I was a kid all I wanted to do was be like my uncle Robbie. Then I wanted to be a musician, now all I want is to be happy and life is seeming to look after me very well in that department.


Question: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?

Sam Brittain: If I ever had the opportunity to work with Rick Rubin that would undoubtedly be a career highlight.


Question: Did you have any pre-conceived ideas about the music industry?

Sam Brittain: Not really, but I've learned a lot of truths.


Question: What has been your favourite part of becoming a music artist?

Sam Brittain: Most definitely the colorful, talented and wonderful friends it has brought into my life. Those human connections are my most prized parts of life.

Question: What's a typical day like?

Sam Brittain: Wake up, pick up dog poop, eat something, work, come home pick up dog poop, sleep (repeat)


Question: What's next, for you?

Sam Brittain: Bed and up early to walk the doggo.


Question: Can you share your socials? (links please)

Sam Brittain: Facebook 
Instagram 
Website


Interview by Gwen van Montfort